Airship.



IIIIII P.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1l 1910.

C. GlROLAMI.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

Patented Mar. 16, 19115.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. GIROLAMI.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1,1910.

Patented Mgr. 16, 1915.

s SHBETS-SHEBT 3. L76

ZJ v JK w i l m Qs www" CHARLES GERGJLAMI, OIE CHICAGO, ILLENOICS.

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Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed August 1, 1310. Serial No. 574,76.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that l, CHARLES GIROLAMI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of YCook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Airships, of which the followingis a specication.

rllhis invention relates to airships and has for its primary objectv to provide an improved construction, combination and Varrangement of parts in airships in general, but more especially in that typefot airship which forms the subject matter of my prior application, filed April 18, 1910, Serial No. 556,210.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved means for suspending the driving engine from the body trame ot' the airship, such suspension means being adapted to transmit the swinging movements ot the engine to a plurality ci movable, stabih'zing wings or-aeroplanes.

Another object is to provide an improved construction for and arrangement orl the,

stabilizing wings.

Another object is to provide an improved body frame construction and arrangement of ropellers.

ther and further objectswillappear in the specicationand be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to thev accompanying drawings, exemplitying -the invention and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' the complete airship embodying lmy improvements, Fig. 2 is a iront elevation 'of the motor and means for suspending the same, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. t is a detail front elevation ot a portion of the engine-suspension ri ging, lFig. 5 is a sec-l tion onthe line. `V, Fig. 4f, llig. 6 is a top plan view of a modication of the enl vgme-suspension rigging'hig. 7 is a section on the line Vil-VH, g. 6.

- Referring more` especially to the exemplii'ication ont the invention shown in the ,drawings, the body l of the airship is provided by covering' a vsuitable body trarne, not sl'rownjv in detail on thedrawings, with any suitable covering material. Rigidly mounted upon the main body trame in any suitable manner not concerned in the present invention are a pa1r or laterally proyecting wings or hired aeroplanes 2 and 3, the extreme lateral edgesot which have oscilalat` i I l ed an operating lever arm 7, which projects equally on'each side of the movable wing to which it is attached. A plurality of wing operating cords 8 are connected at one end to the upper or lower end of one ot the lever -arms 7, and at its other end to a projection or operating arm 9 mounted on a member from which the engine 10, to be hereinafter referred to again, is suspended. A tail plane 11, for maintaining the rear end of the airship on substantially the same level as the forward end thereohis pivotally connected to a rearwardly extending lined aero lane-12 and provided with lever arms 13 y means of which it is swung about the axis of itslpivotal connection by operating cords la. 'lhe forward end of each of the cords 14C are connected with one end of an operating beam or arm 15 rigidly secured to either end of a transverse member 16, which is oscillated about its axis by the forwardly and rearwardly swinging movements of the machine 10, in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

Referring more especially to Figs. 2 and 3, according to the embodiment ot machine, the transverse memberl 16 consists otl a frame with spaced side members 17 andy 16 connected together at either end and provided with journals 19, and QOby means of which journals, the trame 16 is journaled provided on each end with a rectangular l flange 25, which rests upon one et the ledges 23.

'lhe exterior bearing surface' oil journal 24lis adapted to rotatably support a second oscillatable memberv comprising npper and lower bearing boxes 26 and 27, said bearing boxes being provided with projecting flanges 28'for reception of bolts or other suitable fastenings foi1l securing them together about the journal 24, and depend ing from said flanges 28 on either side are a pair of suspending rods 29 to the lower ends of which, as shown best in Fig. 2, is secured a pair of engine frames 30, 4within which the engine shaft 31 of a revolving engine 32 is journaled.

As shown best in Fig. 5, the journal 24 is hollowod interiorly, as indicated by the reference numeral 33, and closed at one end by a solid wall 34, within which is journaled the stub shaft 35 for the support of a sprocket wheel 36, said shaft 35 and sprocket 36 constituting a rotary element for transmitting power from the engine to the propeller driving shaft in a manner to be referred to. For this purpose the sprocket chain 37 operatively connects the sprocket 36 to a similar' sprocket on the engine shaft 31.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a propeller 38 rigidly mounted on the forward end of a propeller driving shaft 39 receives its power from the rotary element, comprising shaft 35, and sprocket 36, by means of a universal joint 40, housed within the hollowed .journal 24, the arrangement of parts being such that each member of the universal coupling 40 is adapted to revolve about the point of intersection of the axes of transverse member 16 and journal 24.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the stub shaft 35, to one end of which the sprocket 16 is rigidly secured, is provided on its other end with a beveled gear 41 intermeshing with each of a pair of beveled gears 42, oppositely disposed and keyed respectively to a pair of co-aXially arranged shafts 43 and 44, which are journaled within the transverse member or frame 16 and arranged to extend longitudinally of said frame. Upon the outer end of each of the shafts 43 and 4-4 is provided a bevel gear 45 which meshes with another bevel gear 46, von the end of a short shaft 47 for driving a propeller 43. The rotating axis of the stub shaft 35 being ar?- ranged to coincide with the axis of oscillation of the hollow journal 24, it will be noted that as the airship oscillates from side to side the bevel gear 42 will travel around the bevel gear 41 in such manner as to provide for a transmission of power from the engine to the propellers 48 whatever the position of the airship may be.

Referring again to lig. 1, the rearwardly extending fixed aeroplane 12 is provided with an aperture or opening 49, within which is revolubly mounted a propeller 50, which is connected up in driven relation with an engine 51 carried by the airship at insane@ any suitable-point, preferably adjacent the rear edges of the wings 2 and 3. ln order to brace the rear aeroplanes at this point a pair of vertically projecting braces or rods 52 are rigidly connected above with a bowed support 53. Pivotally mounted on the rear rip-right rod 52 is a vertically disposed tail vane or rudder 54 which may be operated in any suitable manner, not shown, to guide the lateral movements of the airship.

The operation of the airship will now be readily understood, and, briefly stated, is as follows: Should the airship pitch forwardly, the engine 10 swings forwardly under the action of gravity, causing the transverse member 16 to oscillate upon its axis, and transmitting its oscillatory movement by means of arms 15 to the connecting cords or cables 14 to the rear tail vane 11, causing said tail vane to be elevated, thus providing a wind resisting surface, which tends to depress the tail of the airship and so restore the' airship to its normal horizontal position; llf, on the other hand, the forward end of the airship is elevated above the rear end, the tail vane 11 is depressed in the same manner to impart a lifting tendency until the airship again resumes its normal horizontal position. Supposing that the airship tilts in such a manner as to lower the fixed wing 2, the engine 10 will swing about the hollow journal 24 toward said wing, thereby oscillating the upper arm 9 in a direction away from the wing 2, which movement raises the stabilizing wing 4 and also adjusts the stabilizing wing 6, carried by the said wing 2. This latter movement effects a lifting tendency upon the wing 2 and causes the airship to resume its normal upright position. A similar action occurs 'with respect to the fixedv plane 3 and the stabilizing wings 5 and 6, whenthe airship tilts in the other direction. lt will be seen,

therefore, that in whatever direction the airship tiltsor plunges, there will be movable ailerons automatically adjusted into position tending to right the airship into its normal horizontal position, both laterally and longitudinally.

rlhe power of the engine l0 is transmitted by means of the chain and sprocket mechanism to the rotating element which is mounted adjacent the swinging axes of the engine, and the provision of a universal connection at the point of intersection of said swinging axes obviates the necessity of employing an extensible shaft thus providlng a more compact arrangement of the parts and leaving more of the space in and around the airship unencumbered by the operating parts.

What lt claim is:

1. ln an airship, the combination of an engine separately oscillatableabout an axis,

a .propeller rotatable about axis inter- Elftal secting the irst said axis, a rotary elementi disposed adjacent the point of intersection of said axes, said rotary element being mounted to swing with and operatively connected to said engine, and a universal connection operatively connecting the propeller to said rotary element, said universal connection'being adapted to permit an oscillatory movement of the propeller about the said engine axis.

2. ln ank airship, the combination of anb Said axes, and a movable aileron for maintaining the equilibrium of the ship, said aileronbeing connected to said engine to partake of its relative oscillating movement. j 3. ln an airship, the combination with a propeller rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to the ship, an engine swingingly mounted upon said ship about an axis distant from the engine, a rotary element driven by said engine about an axis intersecting the axis about which said engine swings, a universal connection between said propeller and said rotary element, said universal connection being disposed at the intersection of said axes, and movable ailerons mounted on the ship and connected to said engine to partake of its swinging movements to automatically maintain the ship in equilibrium.

4. ln an airship, the combination with a rigid frame, of a member oscillatable about an axis on said frame, a second member oscillatable on the irst member about an axis intersecting the rst axis, an engine suspend ed from the second member, a rotary element driven by said engine, a propeller driving shaftya universal coupling connecting the propeller shaft to said rotary element, said coupling being disposed at `the intersection of said axes, and a movable aileron operatively connected to each of said oscillating members, one of said ailerons being thereby adapted to automatically correct the lateral tilt of the ship and the other plane being thereby adapted to automatically correct the end wise plunging of the ship.

5. lin an airship, the combination with a rigid frame, of a member oscillatable about an axis on said frame, said member being provided with a hollow journal, a hollow bearing member journaled on the said journal, an engine suspended from the second 4member, a rotatable element carried by said irst member and driven by said engine, a propeller driving shaft, and a universal driving connection between said shaft and rotatable-element, said connection being disj posed within said hollow journal.y

6.. lin an airshio, the combination of a enea rigid frame, a propellerdriving shaft rotatably supported by said frame, an oscillatable member journaled in said frame, a second member journaled in the first member, the axes about which said members oscillate intersecting, an engine suspended from the second member, a rotatable ele ment mounted on said first member and operatively connected to said engine, movable ailerons operatively connected to said oscillatable members and adapted to maintain the ship in lateral and longitudinal equilibrium, and means for operatively connecting said proppeller driving shaft to said rotatable element, said means being operative durin the swinging movements of said engine.

g?. ln an airship, the combination with a rigid frame, a member journaled in said frame, said member being provided with a hollow journal, a bearing box carried by said journal, an engine suspended from said box, a rotating element mounted on said journaland operatively connected with said engine, a propeller driving shaft journaled in said frame and one end extendinginto said hollow journal, movable ailerons for maintaining the ship in equilibrium, operatively connected to said member journaled in the frame and journal respectively, and means disposed within said hollow journal for operatively connecting said propeller driving shaft with the rotating element, said means being operative during the swinging movements of said engine.

8. ln an airship, the combination of a body frame, a propeller driving shaft rotatably supported thereby, a. supplemental frame supported by the body frame to swing on an axis extending transversely with respect lili to the body frame andbeing provided with t 9. ln an airship, the combination of a i body frame, a propeller driving shaft rotatably supported thereby, a supplemental frame supported by the body frame to swing on an axis extending transversely with respect to the body frame and being provided with a bearing whose axis extends through the other axisfand with it defining a horizontal plane extending longitudinally of the body frame, an annular member rotatably connected with the said bearing, an engine suspended from said annular member, an element rotatably supported b the bearing and driven by the engine, an a universal coupling within said. annular member operatively connecting the propeller driving lite shaft and the said element, said bearing and annular member being removably supported with respect to the supplemental frame.

10. In an airship, the combinationof a gliding structure, a pendant structure secured thereto by double pivotal connections for swinging movement on axes intersecting each other defining a horizontal plane, one of said connections embodying a hollow portion, a horizontal propelling shaft in said gliding structure, an engine shaft, and a universal connection between the engine and propelling shafts, said connections being disposed within the said hollow portion.

11. In an airship, the combination of a gliding structure, a pendant structure secured thereto by pivotal connections for swinging movement on axes intersecting each other at right angles, one of said connections embodying a hollow portion, a horizontal propelling shaft in said gliding structure, an engine shaft, and a universal connection between the shafts and located within the said hollow portion.

12. In an airship, the combination of a gliding structure,Y a pendant structure secured thereto by pivotal connections for swinging movement on axes intersecting each other, one of said connections embody* ing a hollow portion, a horizontal propel. ling shaft in said gliding structure, an engine shaft, a universal connection between the engine and propelling shafts, said connection being disposed within the said hollow portion, and a movable aileron onthe gliding structure positively connected to take the relative swinging movement of the pendant structure.

13. In an airship, the combination of a gliding structure, a pendant structure secured thereto by pivotal connections for swinging movement on axes intersecting each other at right angles, one of said connections embodying .a hollow portion, a horizontal propelling shaft in said gliding structureits axis coinciding with one of the intersecting axes, an engine shaft, a flexible connection between the` engine and propel` ling shafts, said connections being disposed within the said hollow portion, and mov able ailerons on the gliding structure connected to take the respective relative swinging movements of the pendant structure.

14. An airship comprising a frame having laterally extending rigid planes, anda rearwardly extending rigid plane, a tail balancing plane pivotally connected to the last mentioned rigid plane, balancin ailerons pivotally connected to the latera ly extending planes, a pendant structure pivotally mounted in the frame to swing about an axis extending lengthwise of the airship, means to support the pendant structure about an axis extending transverse to the other axis and intersecting therewith, a motor supported by said pendant structure, a driving member disposed adjacent the intersection of said axes, driving means connecting the motor and said driving member, a propeller, a propeller shaft with its axis coinciding with the axis of Athe endant structure, a universalconnection to Join the propeller shaft and the said driving member,means connecting the pendant Structure supporting means to the tail balancing plane, and means, connecting the pendant structure with the said balancing ailerons, said balancing plane and ailerons being automatically operated by the swinging of the pendant structure about the transverse axes to maintain the equilibrium of the airship.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 30th day of July A. D. 1910.

errantes lGmoiiaiui.

Witnesses:

A. 0. KNIGHT, 

